Memorial Day of Captain Lolo (31.12.1988)
Memorial Day of Captain Lolo (31.12.1988)
A tall figure. A nature that does not talk unnecessarily. But his eyes are always watching the movements of the invader. He always had a cross with cyanide around his neck. He often comes to our shop in Kuppilan Keniyadi. He buys food for his comrades. He makes his moter to make food for the fighters. Sometimes he does some odd jobs and made his mother mad. He also made fun with me.
Vairamuthu drink alcohol asking Lolo: Why do you run away as soon as you come! Vome here. He comes and talks with father who likes politic talks. What the does people around talk about…? He asks for people´s opinions on the struggle. He would advise the father to reduce the alcohol. Instead, my father would recite Vasanthamalikai dialogues. He would also recite Vasanthamalikai dialogues and make everyone laugh. This is how Lolo moved among us.
Our Lolo also has the honor of preventing the Sinhalese forces from looting our villages. Our nation had thought that the agreement that ended the war with the Sinhalese, echoing the 5th of July, 1987, was coming to light in our lives.
Our nation welcomed the Indian forces by planting banana saplings, sprinkling paneer and giving them fresh water. That day, October 10, 1987, when no one could have imagined that a great calamity was about to happen.
The tanks of the Indian tyrannical government plowed through the villages and jumped into the war. As the hope that existed was shattered, the demons of tyranny were spreading all over the villages. Death could take its toll. The next moment, my life could be ruined. It could h½appen at home. It could happen on the street. It could happen at night. It could happen during the day. It could happen anytime. It could happen to anyone. Yes, our days were running in the eyes of death.
The son born to Punnalai Kattuvan was Captain Lolo. He was disturbing the dreams of the Indian army and destroying them. Lolo – if they heard his name, the guns of the Indian army would start searching for him. But he would just throw dust in the eyes of the great power and stand in front of them.
Investigations would be conducted at every Indian army camp gate like Kuppilan, Elalai, Mallakam, Chunnakam. They would catch the young and the old without any discrimination and chase them away. Where is Lolo?!
We had also moved and left Keniyadi and went to Samadhi Koviladi. Even then, Lolo would come to our house secretly from time to time. He would tell some private story to his father. He would also talk to his mother. He would not stay long. He would leave.
While the Keniyadi families were living in their houses again, we also went to our shop. The soldiers had made a camp in Vairamuthu’s garden next to our shop. Every morning or at dawn or at night, they would come and stay in that camp. The Kothalavala who brought food to the shop at dawn would also be interrogated.
People who came and went would be caught and interrogated. The soldiers would come to mom for cigarettes. Mom won’t give free cigarettes. Give or I’ll shoot, they will say. The gun will aim at mom’s forehead. Mom, stand up bravely and say shoot then! My sister and I will cry, don’t shoot mom. We will beg Mom to give them cigarettes. Our eyes will tremble in fear. I will look at mom. The gun will point at me. Don’t speak, let them shoot, mom will say. My limbs will start shaking. We won´t get a cigarette from her, they will talk in their own language. This has become a daily occurrence for us. Is that why the Indian Force come here?
Then they start looking for Lolo. Do you know Lolo? Those who say they don’t know will be beaten and kicked. Lolo was wandering in their dreams and memories. They were so angry that they would have swallowed Lolo if they had caught him.
One evening, after a long day, Lolo came to our house in a hurry and called out to mother. Indian troops were stationed all along the front. Their running and anger showed that something unusual had happened.
At that time, they and I had a fight outside the tea plantation. Then they shot and killed Vinothan. It was only then that I understood why they were wandering, Lolo said.
Later we heard that they had taken Vinothan to the northern Punnalai Kattuvan camp. Vinothan was a supporter of the LTTE. The only male heir to the family. He was the life of his mother Kanakam. He was the beloved son and beloved brother. In short, he was everything to them. The Indian demons had taken the life of that child.
The village was grumbling about Vinothan’s death all day long. Around 10 o’clock in the afternoon, Rajappu came and told that Vinothan´s mother and aunt had bought Vinothn´s body from the Indian troop. And the funeral would be held at the house. And everything should be finished within three hours, was the warning from the Indian troop.
Only Indian soldiers surrounded Vinothan’s house. They were waiting for Lolo to come there. Vinothan’s house was at the Rajeswariyamman temple, which built the northern Punnalai. From there, Vinothan would come to our shop every day to buy sugar, rice, and matchboxes. Vinothan, who had become peaceful. Vinothan who didn’t argue with anyone. Vinothan, Kanagamma’s favorite child. He would never come again. The super-power gun had silenced him.
The people were terrified but still came to see Vinothan’s death. My mother also came. She came and told, pure Kanagamma. They would shoot the child who was the property.
Many days after Vinothan’s death, Kanagamma would come to our shop and cry for her son. Every morning was a sad morning for our land.
The next morning. My father stood with flowers to offer God. Sarma, an army officer came to our shop. He called mom, dad, and all of us. He said it was his birthday that day.
After a while, he got to the point. Do you know Lolo? Dad said no. Don’t lie, I know Lolo is coming her. Dad said no again. Swear by the God you worship that Lolo has not come. Dad swore by touching the statue of each God. Sarma left. One day, we will shoot Lolo. After Sarma left, dad said, “Come and tell me!”
Every day, the Indian troops searched for Lolo, surrounding each village, searching, beating, kicking, and torturing them daily.
That morning dawned like a blessing. But no one expected the great tragedy that awaited us. The village was immersed in its work. The Indian troops arrived suddenly. There was a lot of laughter and excitement. A Tamil soldier came to the shop and said, “You’ve got Lolo.”
He handed his mother a 200 rupee note and asked for a cigarette for the whole thing. The people who were probably wandering around for cigarettes, happily celebrating the loss of our Lolo. Bought cigarettes and went towards the Vadakku Punnalai Kattuvan camp. After they left, my mother wiped her troubled eyes.
My father, who had gone to the Union, said that in the direct confrontation with them last night, Lolo was killed. In shorts, earrings, sandal and vipoothi on his forehead, a red and blue pen in his pocket, a coffee can in his bicycle pocket, a pistol in his waist, and a cyanide hidden in his collar. The fire they had set before him, which brought his life out on 31.12.1988.
We did not even see the body of Lolo. The reason was that we were afraid of being bitten by them. That night, my father did not go to the meeting in Kuppilan. He cried from home. My father vented his anger on them by cursing. My mother cried silently. Those who hoped that Lolo would return turned out to be just a dream. He never came. Captain Lolo is still in our hearts and memory.
– Memory (written in 2003)
(Translation by Tamilpriya)
0 Comments